How to apply to art and design at the University of Maryland: a BA in Studio Art with no portfolio to enter, a portfolio review into the graphic design track after six foundation courses, and Immersive Media Design as a limited enrollment program, portfolio requirements and timelines for students in China, students in Canada and transfer students

At the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), undergraduate art is offered by the Department of Art in the College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU). This guide follows UMD’s website for fall 2027 entry and is written for students in China (including A-Level, IB and AP students), students in Canada (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Majors

• BA in Studio Art: painting, drawing, sculpture, digital media, printmaking, art theory, art history and graphic design. The department does not offer a studio art minor. There are three tracks:
  • Track 1, open BA: no portfolio requirement; 36 studio credits plus 12 in art history and/or theory, 48 in total. It leaves room for electives, double majors and double degrees, and works with the art education curriculum.
  • Track 2, advanced specialization: marked “ON HOLD”. It was by competitive portfolio review and added a 12-credit specialization, 60 credits in total.
  • Track 3, graphic design: by competitive portfolio review only; graphic design courses are open only to admitted students; 60 credits with a set sequence of 300- and 400-level courses.
• Immersive Media Design (IMD): run jointly by Art and Computer Science, covering virtual and augmented reality, projection, interactive installations and more. The artistic “Emerging Creatives” track is a BA in ARHU; the technical track is a BS in the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. The BA requires the IMDM core, seven studio art courses and two computing courses; first-year requirements overlap with studio art, so students can decide after 30 credits.

2. Getting into the major

• Studio art: admission is handled by the university and no portfolio is required; students admitted to UMD in the major start in the open track. Some awards and scholarships require portfolios. Current UMD students who want to switch contact the department’s undergraduate advisor and then ARHU advising.
• Six foundation courses: ARTT100 Two-Dimensional Design, ARTT110 Drawing I, ARTT150 Art Theory, ARTT200 Three-Dimensional Art, ARTT210 Drawing II and ARTT255 Digital Art and Design Processes.
• Graphic design track: open only to rising juniors and seniors, not incoming freshmen. You must be a studio art major with a 3.0 overall GPA who has completed or is taking the six foundation courses. The page says fall 2027 applications are due 5 p.m., March 6, 2027, with the portal opening February 18, 2027 and an online information session on February 3, 2027; another paragraph on the same page still shows 2026 dates (session February 4, portal February 18), so follow the department’s latest notice. Applicants who advance to round two are invited to an in-person interview. On reapplying, the studio art page says you may reapply one time, while the application page says you may reapply in future rounds.
• Immersive Media Design: a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP). Choosing it does not affect admission to UMD; admitted students are then reviewed by the program. Directly admitted students must complete gateway courses with a minimum GPA and pass a portfolio review at 45 credits. Students not directly admitted follow the LEP process for current students.

3. Portfolio requirements

• When applying to UMD: none for studio art.
• Graphic design track: 10–12 single images showing foundation skills (three-dimensional form, proportion, perspective, composition, color), optionally with photography, typography, layout, illustration and design; jpgs of at most 2 MB, each with a one-sentence description, medium, dimensions or running time and date. Also the 2027 Typographic Systems assignment (three 4 × 6 inch black, white and gray compositions plus a 250–300 word reflection), a 450–500 word essay and transcripts.
• CAPA Scholarship: 12 single images; incoming freshmen submit AP or high school portfolios.

4. Applying and deadlines

• Early action (non-binding): November 1, decision by February 1. Admissions strongly encourages this date for priority consideration for admission, merit scholarships and special programs.
• Regular decision: January 20, decision by April 1; confirm by May 1.
• Application fee: USD 80, non-refundable.
• Testing: SAT/ACT optional for the spring and fall 2027 cycles.

5. Students at high schools in China

• English: required for international applicants; scores must be under two years old and sent by the testing agency: TOEFL 5 on the new scale (95 on the old; MyBest not accepted), IELTS 7 or Duolingo 120.
• Gaokao or art exams: UMD does not publish how these are used.
• A-Level, IB and AP: submit official scores after admission for credit.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• English waiver: may be granted if English is your first language and you hold Canadian citizenship or completed high school in Canada; students in the French system must test.
• BC courses: UMD does not publish grade requirements for Canadian or BC curricula.

7. Transfer students

• University requirements: at least 12 college credits (AP/IB do not count). Fall deadlines: March 1 priority, June 1 regular.
• Department of Art: the FAQ says no portfolio is required for admission into the major, without distinguishing first-year and transfer students. The graphic design requirements accept equivalent foundation courses from other institutions; credit is subject to the department’s evaluation.

8. Costs and scholarships

• Fall 2026 and spring 2027 tuition: USD 22,043 per semester for full-time non-residents, plus USD 910 in mandatory fees per semester. Students on a UMD-issued I-20 pay an extra USD 125 per semester.
• Total cost guide: the cost estimate is still for 2025-26: out-of-state tuition and fees USD 41,974 and housing and food 16,436, about USD 62,374 in total with books, transport and personal costs; UMD notes international students may have higher living costs.
• CAPA Scholarship: eight awards each spring, equal to one year of in-state tuition, open to newly admitted freshmen and transfers and current majors with a 3.0 GPA; new students must be admitted by April 7. The CAPA page shows a deadline of April 14, 2025 (and elsewhere April 8), while the scholarships page lists a 2026 window of March 23 to April 10. Whether international students are eligible is not stated.
• Other awards: the Clarvit and Van Crews scholarships for graphic design students, and awards such as the painting prize for current majors; see the department’s scholarships page.

9. Checklist

Students in China:

• Apply early action by November 1 for studio art or IMD; no portfolio needed
• TOEFL 5 (95 old scale), IELTS 7 or Duolingo 120; SAT/ACT optional
• For graphic design, finish the six foundation courses early, keep a 3.0 GPA and apply in early March of your sophomore year

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Same deadlines; English-first-language students who finished high school in Canada may be exempt from English testing (French system excluded)

Transfer students:

• At least 12 credits; fall priority deadline March 1; bring your foundation coursework and check the timing of the graphic design application

Sources: University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Art undergraduate admissions; BA in Studio Art; BA in Immersive Media Design; Graphic design application info; Art scholarships and awards; CAPA Scholarship; Department FAQ; First-year applicants; Application deadlines; English proficiency; Limited Enrollment Programs; Transfer applicants; Cost of attendance; 2026-27 undergraduate tuition. Tuition is for fall 2026 and spring 2027; the cost estimate is still for 2025-26 and scholarship pages show 2025 and 2026 dates. Check UMD for the latest.